Health Notes

To have an item listed, mail to the Gazette-Packet, 1604 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314; fax to 703-917-0991 or e-mail to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. If you have any questions, call Elizabeth Orr at 703-917-6449.ee

Care-giving Tips. Learn practical tips and helpful community resources to use when caring for a family member in the home at the Mount Vernon Adult Day Health Center from 7-8:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 4. Mount Vernon Adult Day is located at 8350 Richmond Highway, Suite 737.

NAMI-Northern Virginia. Meets at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25, at first Christian Church, 6165 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. The group will discuss employment disclosure options and strategies for people with psychiatric disabilities. Free. For more information, call 703-525-0686.

Burn Survivors Group. A group for people with serious burn injuries and their family and friends meet from 7:30 to 9 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month in the American Red Cross Building, 123 N. Alfred St., Alexandria. For more information, call 703-698-1626.

The Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program will be offering two support groups for survivors of sexual abuse or sexual assault this fall, each of which are described below:

* Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Support Group: A 10-week psycho-educational support group for women who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse will meet on Thursday evenings This group is sponsored by the Alexandria SARA Program. Call Kathy at 703-838-5030 for more information.

* Sexual Assault Survivors Support Group: An eight-week support group for women who are survivors of sexual assault will meet on Tuesday evenings, beginning Oct. 5. This group is sponsored by the SARA Program . As assessment is required. Call Temple at 703-838-5030.

The Fairfax County Health Department is launching a major volunteer recruitment drive to staff the Fairfax Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), a program of the Fairfax County Citizen Corps. More than 13,000 medical and nonmedical volunteers are needed to respond to a full-scale public health emergency in Fairfax County. The Fairfax MRC needs volunteer physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, mental health professionals, as well as a large number of nonmedical volunteers are needed to provide general support. For more information or to volunteer, call 703-246-2485, TTY 703-591-6435, or e-mail donna.foster@fairfaxcounty.gov.

David C. Weintritt, M.D., a board-certified surgeon specializing in breast cancer, will present free seminars at Mount Vernon Hospital, 2501 Parker's Lane in Alexandria in the Engh conference rooms. Each session will begin at 7 p.m. and is expected to last approximately 90 minutes. For additional information or to register for the seminars, call 703-204-3366. Attendees can also register at www.inova.org by clicking on education/classes. Additional information is provided below:

* Wednesday, Nov. 10: Weintritt will inform patients

and health professionals of current and future advances in breast cancer treatment.

Fibromyalgia/Arthritis Support Group. Meets second Thursday of each month, at 1 p.m., at Sherwood Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria. The next meeting is Nov. 11. For more information, call the Arthritis Foundation at 202-537-6800 ext. 3339.

Take off Pounds Sensibly, TOPS chapter VA #280, Alexandria, meets Thursdays, at 10 a.m., at the Hollin Hall Senior Center on Shenandoah Road. For more information, call Joan at 703-751-6086.

Alzheimer's Support Group. The Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Support Group meets the first Wednesday of each month, at 4:30 p.m., at the Alexandria Adult Day Health Center. The group is free and open to the community. The Alexandria Adult Day Health Center is located at 1108 Jefferson St. Call 703-838-4224 before attending to verify time and location.

Alexandria Red Cross relies on volunteers to sustain its humanitarian mission for disaster relief efforts, to teach first aid and CPR, for the Friendly Visitor Program and other community service work, special events, administrative support, to work with the Junior Red Cross and for blood donation services for the citizens of Alexandria. Training is provided. Call 703-549-8300 or see the Web site at http://www.alexandriaredcross.org.

The Mount Vernon Community Wellness Initiative has published a free educational pamphlet, "High Blood Pressure: Learn the Facts and Reduce the Risks." The pamphlet is being distributed to churches, libraries, pharmacies, physician's offices and community organizations. For a copy, call 703-360-4000.

CrisisLink has been helping people deal with anxiety, stress and crisis throughout the entire metropolitan area for 35 years. Feel free to call them at 703-527-4077 or 1-800-784-2433, or learn more about their confidential, free hot line and crisis response services on the web at www.crisislink.org.

Emotions Anonymous (EA) is a 12-Step fellowship for people whose emotions are causing difficulties in their lives. A local group of Emotions Anonymous meets every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Shiloh Meeting and Conference Center (SMCC), 1400 Duke St. Call 703-660-8798, or send an e-mail to hemsidan@aaahawk.com.